The parliamentary intelligence and security committee in the British parliament has warned that the country faces a "growing" and unpredictable threat from Iran and the government must do more to counter it, the BBC reported.
The call comes after the committee published the results of a major inquiry that looks at assassinations and kidnappings carried out by the Iranian state, espionage, cyberattacks and the country's nuclear program.
The committee expressed particular concern about the "sharp increase" in physical threats against opponents of the Iranian regime in the UK. Its chairman, Lord Beamish, said that "Iran poses a wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat to the UK, UK citizens and UK interests".
He explained that Iran's intelligence services were "well-equipped with significant areas of asymmetric power".
The committee accused the government of focusing on "crisis management" and "firefighting" with Iran, as well as its nuclear programme, at the expense of other threats.
According to the committee, more resources are required because of the threat to national security posed by Iran. "Although Iran's activities appear to be less strategic and on a smaller scale than those of Russia and China, Iran poses a wide-ranging threat to the UK's national security that should not be underestimated: it is persistent and - crucially - unpredictable", the Commission said.
Regarding the physical threat to people living in the UK, the Commission said it had increased significantly in pace and numbers since the start of 2022. It is focused on dissidents and other opponents of the Iranian regime, but there is also an increased threat "against Jewish and Israeli interests in the UK".
According to the investigation, since the start of 2022 There have been at least 15 attempts to kill or kidnap British citizens or people living in the UK.
But, the committee says, Iran does not view attacks on dissident, Jewish and Israeli targets in the UK as attacks on the country itself. The report continues: "Rather, it views the UK as collateral in dealing with internal matters - that is, the elimination of perceived enemies of the regime - on UK soil," the parliamentary committee says.
The 260-page report was published today, July 10, as part of the committee's inquiry into Iran's national security. It covers events up to August 2023, when the commission concluded its evidence gathering.
It had previously been read by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who was sent a copy in March, and was circulated to British intelligence agencies to allow them to check accuracy and request redactions on national security grounds.
According to the commission, the government is required to provide its response within 60 days of publication.